NYC's Community for Jewish Learning, Culture and Experience

Our Team

Meet Our Rabbis

RABBI ADAM JACOBS

Executive Directoradam@aishcenter.comRabbi Adam Jacobs was born and raised in New York and has lived in Boston and Jerusalem, where he received his rabbinic ordination. He completed his B.A. in Music from Brandeis University and has a Masters of Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory. His writing has appeared in the Huffington Post, the Times of Israel, the Algemeiner Journal and in his own blog – Shaken Faithless. He has self-published three small books and was one of the teachers featured in the documentary film Kabbalah Me. His life’s work is to introduce the beauty, meaning and Joy of Judaism to all who are interested. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Penina and 5 children.

RABBI MARC TERRIS

Executive Learning Rabbi marc@aishcenter.comRabbi Marc Terris was born and raised in Vineland, New Jersey. Hecompleted his B.A. in Accounting with a minor in Finance from MontclairState University. After graduating he worked in the private sector at Bankers Trust in their accounting department. After a few years in the field, he relocated to Jerusalem to study at Aish HaTorah College of Jewish Studies where he received his Rabbinical Ordination. Rabbi Terris has inspired business executives in the New York area for the last 15 years. He enjoys helping others answer their life’s questions and connecting all Jews to the beauty and meaning of our 3,400 year old Tradition. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Noa and their six children.

RABBI SAJ FREIBERG

Director, Aish Center of Manhattansaj@aishcenter.comSaj Freiberg was raised in Manhattan. He worked as an actor from the age of 16 till 24, and then decided to pursue the truth wherever it would lead. Saj and his wife Hadassah have specialized in campus outreach for over a decade, co-founding YEHUDI on Campus with programs at FIU, FSU, UF, and UCF. In 2018 Saj returned to NY as the new Director of Aish Manhattan. He received his BA in English Literature from Oberlin College, and Rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. Saj and Hadassah have three awesome children, Yakov, Nava, and Pinchas Chaim.

RABBI MOSHE MAYERFELD

Director, Aish Center of Williamsburgmoshe@aishcenter.comRabbi Moshe Mayerfeld is the former Director of Aish UK. He is a sought after educator and international speaker. He was the Rabbi of a boutique Synagogue in Hampstead, London for almost 4 years. His speaker tours have seen him travel to South Africa, Australia, Spain, Poland, Israel and more. He was born in New Jersey, moved to Israel aged 17 and subsequently received Rabbinic ordination at the young age of 22 as well as a B.A. in Jewish Philosophy. He worked with troubled and at-risk young people, gaining experience in drug and alcohol abuse counseling, and helping teenagers from broken homes. He then moved to the UK, where he started working for Aishteaching in Schools, on Campus and with Young Professionals. Moshe has officiated in over 50 weddings in the last two years.He is about to complete his MA in Jewish Education and has taught for some of London’s highest profile firms, executives and Company Directors.

LIAT MAYERFELD

Director, Aish Center of Williamsburgliat@aishcenter.comLiat Mayerfeld was one of the UK’s most senior and sought after speakers. She has been brought to speak in seminars internationally in Spain, Poland, Israel, Denmark, the USA and Australia. She is an academic who loves to learn and read. Her wisdom and keen insight into people combined with her ability to distill deep ideas into tangible and relevant life lessons make her a superb educator. Born in New York, she holds teaching qualification & degrees in Jewish studies & special needs education from Michlala College for Women, Jerusalem. Liat spent over 2 years working for Israeli military intelligence before moving to the UK with her husband and family. While teaching and educating, she is completing her MA in Jewish Education. In her new role, Liat will be focusing, among many other things, on developing and directing programs for women. Liat is a superb hostess with an open door policy, together with her husband Moshe and their 8 children they have welcomed 1,000’s to their Shabbat, festivals and random weekday dinners!

ARI SOSHTAIN

Senior Educator, Aish Center of Manhattan

Ari grew up in Woodmere, New York and graduated from Queens College with a degree in Economics. After graduation, he spent time traveling the globe surfing waves in France, Spain, Costa Rica and Hawaii. Ari found his way to Israel and decided to hang there for a few years experiencing the beauty and history of the land while studying with Jerusalem’s finest minds. He returned to New York to pursue a career in the business world. Ari traded on Wall Street and invested in real estate with much success. It was during this time that he began to yearn for something more fulfilling as a career where he would be able to re-connect people to their Jewish roots and heritage. He decided it was time to take all that he had learned and pay it forward. For the past 10 years, Ari has been a Rabbi in the West Village of Manhattan, guiding and teaching young Jewish professionals for the JEC/Birthright Alumni Community. During that time he led over 30 trips to Israel. He is known as a gifted teacher and speaker who combines an expansive knowledge base with a dynamic and empathic personality. Ari is thrilled to now join the

Aish family. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife Cookie and their 4 awesome children.

RABBI EPHRAIM SHORE

Director of Development, Aish New York

Rabbi Ephraim Shore is the Director of Development of Aish New York. Ephraim has worked with Aish HaTorah for 40 years, serving as Executive Director of Aish Jerusalem, Aish Toronto and Aish Miami, as well as HonestReporting. He is the co-Founder of Jerusalem Fellowships, Hasbara Fellowships, and Discovery Seminars. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Esther, their 9 children and assorted grandchildren. He is an avid mountain biker, swimmer and yoga enthusiast.

Meet Our Staff

NESYA MALKA

Assistant Executive Directornesya@aishcenter.com

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Nesya attended Stern College and Rutgers University School of Law. An attorney by trade, Nesya has chosen to dedicate her advanced education and skills to benefit the Jewish community and has served for the last two years as the Assistant Executive Director for Aish Center.